Our Blog
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
What’s It Like to Make Your Own Chocolate Bar at Creo?
Entering Creo was like walking into a wall of chocolate. It was more than the gorgeous display of enticing treats; it was the heady aroma of toasted cocoa beans that permeated every corner of the small workshop. Even as I write this, I want to inhale deeply and savor...
The Mashpi Amagusa Reserve Saved By Donations
The Basantes family now owns 62-hectares of their precious Mashpi Amagusa Reserve thanks to kind donors.
What’s It Like to Make Your Own Chocolate Bar at Creo?
Entering Creo was like walking into a wall of chocolate. It was more than the gorgeous display of enticing treats; it was the heady aroma of toasted cocoa beans that permeated every corner of the small workshop. Even as I write this, I want to inhale deeply and savor...
The Andean Condor in Ecuador
The spectacular Andean Condor is the largest flying bird in the world, with a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet. While this bird's habitat spans several borders from Colombia to Argentina, there are only a few locations where populations are healthy. One of those is on the...
A Botanical Garden Full of Orchids in Misahualli, Rio Napo
Orquiderio, a word boldly painted in white, is the only sign inviting visitors to the EcoSelva Orchid Garden. Thanks to a collaboration with Jiovany Rivadeneyra of Ama EcoLodge, we had no problems finding the place, arriving by motor canoe from the small town of...
Where Is The Best Hostel in the USA?
Where is the best hostel in the USA? Right around the corner from our house in Portland, Oregon! According to the 2025 HOSCAR Awards, which rely entirely on Hostelworld customer reviews, the Northwest Portland Hostel is the Best in the United States. They have a...
After Helene: Should You Visit North Carolina?
Hurricane Helene barreled into the western flank of North Carolina in September 2024. She wasn’t polite. She didn’t skirt past the mountains or fizzle into a drizzle over the valleys. She delivered a wallop, bringing with her record-breaking rainfall, mudslides, power...
Our Favorite Face Masks for Safe Travel
Have you ever wondered which face mask provides the best protection for international travel? You are not alone. As a person who is immunocompromised, I am afraid of flying during the Covid-19 pandemic. I took the plunge and flew across the country for our youngest...
King of the Condors Gives Back to the Andes
I’m so excited to share King of the Condors, a bilingual folktale for children of all ages—including adults like me who love stories that blend imaginative storytelling with breathtaking artwork. Ximena Cardoso Montero, a longtime reader of Not Your Average American...
Alausí Welcomes Back the Nariz del Diablo Tourist Train
Update May 1, 2025 - Currently, Nariz del Diablo has not opened. The latest news comes from La Prenza and it looks like they will be testing the route in May 2025 with the idea of opening for business as soon as possible. We'll do our best to bring you prompt updates!...
Máchica: The Next Andean Superfood?
On the road back from Quilotoa to Quito, there’s a turn that doesn’t show up on most tourist maps, the Ruta de la Máchica, a fifth-generation family-run mill and cultural project led by Freddy Molina, a man whose last name comes from the Spanish word for "miller."...